With all the many paid streaming services out there, it’s easy to overlook the masses of LGBTQ+ shows produced by the UK’s free-to-air TV channels, all available to stream for not a penny more than your TV licence.
Overlook no more, as here is the ultimate guide to all the shows with queer, lesbian and bisexual women plus trans and non-binary folks! Plus we now have a section of notable shows featuring gay male characters because there’s some real big-hitters in there that aren’t to be missed.
Table of contents
The Queerest Shows on BBC, ITV, Channel 4 & Channel 5
These shows feature super queer, lesbian, trans or bisexual women lead characters or significant queer stories!
2017-2022 // 5 seasons // 46 episodes
This comedy drama is set amid the fallout from merging two schools in the fictional Northern town of Ackley, mixing white and South Asian communities together in a way that stirs up a whole gamut of social issues. One student finding a whole lot stirred up in her is Nasreen, one of the leads on the show, who as a young queer Muslim woman, has to deal with a double-whammy of homophobia and Islamophobia.
1999 – 2006 // 8 seasons // 107 episodes
The show that made Heather Hogan gay. I’m not sure any further explanation is really needed, but this iconic women’s prison drama really is chock-full of lesbian thrills in pretty much every season, starting off with the forbidden romance between prisoner Nikki Wade and sultry Scottish wing governor Helen Stewart.
The Confessions of Frannie Langton
2022 // 1 season // 4 episodes
An adaptation of the gothic novel by Sara Collins, this period drama follows the trial of Frannie Langton, a Jamaican woman, after she’s arrested for the murder of the couple that enslaved her (long past when slavery was legally abolished). Through flashbacks, we twist and turn through the events leading up to Frannie’s arrest, including her passionate queer relationship with the murdered woman.
2020 – 2021 // 2 Seasons // 12 episodes
A standout queer classic of recent years, Feel Good draws from Mae Martin’s real life as a comedian struggling with addiction as they embark on a co-dependent relationship with schoolteacher George, who is trying to adapt to her first queer love. Although the show goes to some dark places, it never fails to mine Mae’s many traumas for laughs and leaves you rooting for Mae and George to make it together.
Float
2022 – 2024 // 2 seasons // 12 episodes
This Scottish series of short episodes follows current and former lifeguards at a small-town swimming pool. Jade struggles with anger management, Colette struggles with crap boyfriends, and they start getting closer during their shifts at the world’s least-visited pool. The first season had strong web series vibes in terms of production, but the second gets a lot stronger!
Genderquake
2018 // 2 episodes
Part of a season Channel 4 did a few years back exploring gender identity in its typically confrontational way, Genderquake is a two-part reality TV experiment throwing 11 young Brits from across the gender spectrum together in a house. Do we expect to see some fireworks when cis, trans, intersex, non-binary strangers with very different lived experiences and gender expectations are living in each others’ pockets? Absolutely! Maybe now this show can be considered a period piece from a time when it felt like we were, as a nation and culture, trying to make progress towards greater understanding and compassion around gender identity.
Girl
1974 // 1 episode
Forget Brookside, this show has the bona fide first-ever lesbian kiss on British TV! Made in 1974, the original recording was believed to be lost until a low quality video recording was found in the archive of another TV station. So now we can rejoice and enjoy this tight half-hour drama that spotlights Jackie (an impossibly young Alyson Steadman), about to leave the women’s army under a dark cloud, and her final encounter with Chrissy, the uptight corporal she had a tempestuous relationship with.
They reminisce, they smoulder, they argue, they dance, of course they snog, and they also smoke about 40 cigarettes each. This is so worth devoting 30 minutes of your time to; I just watched it while making dinner and now I am both physically and emotionally sated.
2024-26 // 2 seasons // 20 episodes
I watched this and I definitely liked it! The UK’s first and only reality show dedicated to queer women, we follow a rotating cast of ladies as they rotate their affections (and tongues) around each other, in a sun-drenched Italian villa. A new cast came back for a second season, but in a blow to the nation’s queer TV viewers, it was cancelled alongside its sibling show I Kissed a Boy. It’s an absolute travesty, as it could have been so much more!
2018 – 2022 // 4 seasons // 32 episodes
You know this one: just your typical cat-and-mouse caper featuring a government agent tracking down a female assassin, leading her to question her life, sexuality and everything else.
2012 – 2020 // 5 seasons // 24 episodes
The plot of this largely excellent comedy-drama is initially driven by the reuniting of septuagenarian former sweethearts Alan and Celia, and the chalk-and-cheese mixing of their daughters, farmer Gillian (Nicola Walker, somehow not playing gay here), and haughty headmistress Caroline (Sarah Lancashire, definitely and deftly playing gay here). Caroline’s storyline over the five seasons takes her through much romance and heartbreak.
Pushers
2025- // 1 season // 6 episodes
An excellent and thoroughly bonkers sitcom that follows Emily (IRL lesbian Rosie Jones, also the writer and creator of the show) who, after her disability benefits are mercilessly taken away, gets roped into an old schoolfriends’ drug pushing scheme and quickly realises that she can take advantage of everyone’s stereotyped views of disabled people to get away with almost anything. Jones’s script artfully lampoons attitudes to poverty and disability with some very clever jokes — I have still not stopped laughing at the toilet accessibility charity called “Wee C U.” Emily nurses a crush on her hot but highly suspect boss Jo, but if this gets renewed for a second season, I’m totally shipping Emily with her neurodivergent partner-in-crime Hope.
2025- // 1 season // 6 episodes
This appropriately riotous comedy drama follows five menopausal women who form a punk band to (barely) distract themselves from the various dramas going on in their life. While there’s the usual sharp wit you can expect from a Sally Wainwright-penned script, several storylines go down decidedly dark paths, making for rather tense watching. The show is lifted by breathtaking performances all round, especially from Joanna Scanlon and Rosalie Craig, who discover an unexpected connection from their past, and quickly form a friendship with an intensity rarely seen on TV.
Despite no queer relationships explored for the main characters (yet), gayness abounds in the show among the supporting cast, which is the least you can expect from a show set in Hebden Bridge (aka the lesbian capital of Great Britain). Riot Women will be returning for a second season, teasing a quest for vengeance for Craig’s character.
Smoggie Queens
2024- // 2 seasons // 12 episodes
Here’s a camp comedy that follows a gaggle of misfit queers in Middlesborough, centred on outrageous egomaniac Dickie. The show brings charm and genuine laughs in equal measure. Sapphic interest comes courtesy of Sal, the deadpan lesbian of the group, who falls for a Lucy Spraggan-a-like at an audition for North East’s Got Talent (grand prize: a year’s worth of ham!). Season two sees Sal and Mel’s will-they-won’t-they dynamic continue as the gang gets up to increasingly surreal antics.
2023- // 2 seasons // 12 episodes
This outstanding pitch-black comedy follows a woman and her two daughters, living a chaotic life several years after the loss of the man of the family. One daughter, Josie, is extremely gay, but becomes increasingly embroiled in a relationship with a boy because it’s easier than confronting her big gay feelings.
Per Kayla’s review: “This is not a series about a family coming together to face their traumas together. This is not a series about a dysfunctional family learning to be more functional in their own ways. It’s a laugh-out-loud comedy about a family constantly bringing out the worst in each other and encouraging each other’s self-destructive patterns. And watching them flounder, fail, and fight is wildly entertaining.”
2026 // 1 season // 5 episodes
Russell T Davies’ superlative state-of-the-nation thriller perfectly (and scarily) captures the tensions between gay bar owner Leo (Alan Cumming) and his right-wing neighbour, Clive (David Morrissey), whose lives and families become intertwined with devastating consequences. Interspersed with the drama are touching moments, especially between Leo and Clive’s teenage (gay) son George.
Torchwood
2006-2011 // 4 seasons // 41 episodes
Back before Doctor Who mainstreamed its queerness, Torchwood came along as a brash pansexual spinoff focusing on brash pansexual Captain Jack Harkness, who leads a covert agency investigating alien incidents on Earth. Queer folks in his gang include computer whizz Toshiko, sweet administrator Ianto, and well, everyone else because it seems they all have some queer involvement at some point! A very fun TV show, but be wary of getting too attached to the characters…
Transaction
2025 // 1 season // 6 episodes
This sitcom is written by and stars Jordan Gray, which feels like it must have been commissioned a couple of years back. The premise is that a supermarket is ringed by an angry mob protesting a transphobic billboard (which was a cockup by the hapless manager), and so they hastily hire the first trans person they can find: Liv, a chaos agent who takes full advantage of the situation to cause as much chaos as possible. A little clunky at times, but worth it just to see a trans woman totally on top!
What It Feels Like for a Girl
2025 // 1 season // 8 episodes
Adapted from Paris Lees’ memoir of the same name, What It Feels Like for a Girl is a coming-of-age story that follows teenager Byron on a gender journey through early noughties nightlife, dangerous relationships and eventual trans acceptance. With a standout lead performance from Ellis Howard and a raucous supporting cast, this show sets out to be a new landmark for trans TV in Britain.
2021-26 // 3 seasons // 18 episodes
Your fave serial gay-for-pay actress Suranne Jones gets stuck on a military submarine so she can bring an underwater killer to justice! Her only link to the outside is her ex-girlfriend (Rose Leslie), with whom she exchanges messages encoded using references to their shared past, so not only does Suranne have to endure claustrophobia and multiple chasings, she also gets to relive her relationship traumas too! If you like suspenseful crime dramas, watch this, because it is much better than I’m making it sound. In fact, read Natalie’s review for a real take. The duo returned for a less compelling second season set on a desert air force base, with an improved but still somewhat clunky season three in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.
More BBC, ITV, Channel 4 & Channel 5 shows with major LGBTQ+ women and trans characters
These shows all have queer characters or storylines, but it may not be from the start, or may not be a focal point for the show.
2024- // 2 seasons // 12 episodes
A twisty mystery adapted from a popular book series, this show follows Pippa as she attempts to get to the bottom of the disappearance of a local girl, when everyone else is convinced the culprit has already been found. Pippa’s queer best friend Cara has a crush on another girl at school, plus there’s a gender non-conforming character, Jesse, but ultimately queerness doesn’t play a major role in the show. I struggled with the main character’s dodgy British accent, but Riese enjoyed it for its clever mystery and authentic depiction of teens. Sadly season two sees less queer stuff!
Amandaland
2025- // 2 seasons // 12 episodes
Here’s an excellent spin-off from popular sitcom Motherland, focusing on the narcissistic Amanda, recently divorced and having to “slum it” in a distant suburb. Somehow this show manages to make you laugh both at and with Amanda, as she attempts to re-brand being a shop-assistant as a “design collab” and deals with her judgmental mother, played by the always-perfect Joanna Lumley. Part of Amanda’s new friend-group is a lesbian couple, one of whom is Siobhan McSweeney (Sister Michael from Derry Girls!), who plays a deadpan celebrity chef.
An t-Eilean (The Island)
2025 // 1 season // 4 episodes
This crime mini-series is part in Gaelic and part-English, and is officially the most expensive Gaelic-language TV show ever produced! Set in the Outer Hebrides, expect much drone camerawork over the dramatic countryside that could double as a Visit Scotland advert. The story follows police family liaison officer Kat Crichton as she heads back to her home town in the aftermath of an apparent robbery and murder in the household of the island’s richest family. We get flashbacks to Kat’s past entanglement with the family (including a tongue-based entanglement with one of the daughters) as she tries to unravel the mystery.
At Home With the Braithwaites
2000 – 2003 // 4 seasons // 26 episodes
This zany family comedy-drama follows the Braithwaites after a life-changing lottery win. Eldest daughter Virginia is a lesbian who is frequently caught between her lust for her next door neighbour, seductive housewife Megan, and wholesome student Tamsin.
Band of Gold
1995 – 1997 // 3 seasons // 18 episodes
This is a milestone British drama about sex workers in Bradford. Although much of the plot is driven by storylines revolving around men murdering or assaulting women, the show shines in scenes involving the ensemble powerhouse female cast. The second season is notable for the appearance of a young Lena Headey playing a dominatrix who has a relationship with a vulnerable runaway played by an outstanding Samantha Morton.
Broadchurch
2013 – 2017 // 3 seasons // 24 episodes
Ushering in a new age of sober, windswept British crime dramas, Broadchurch got the nation caught up in its twisty tale of a child gone missing, and the complexities of its impact on a close-knit community.
Charlotte Rampling recurs in the second season as the prosecuting barrister of the murder case from the first season, and a minor plot sees her rekindle a sapphic romance with a long-time friend and local reporter.
Call the Midwife
2012- // 14 seasons // 116 episodes
This cozy Sunday teatime fare is shot through with a bit of grit, following a bunch of nuns and midwives working in poverty-stricken post-war London. Starting in season 4, nurses Patsy and Delia inject some queer angst into proceedings.
2019 // 1 season // 10 episodes
A not very good women’s prison drama that tries but fails to fill the gap left by classics like Wentworth and Bad Girls. Of course there has to be lesbians, but there wasn’t enough compelling drama lesbian or otherwise to get this show renewed.
Clique
2017 – 2018 // 2 seasons // 12 episodes
This little-known but very watchable thriller follows Holly as a fresher at Edinburgh university, worried that her BFF is getting drawn to a clique of alpha girls and their lavish parties funded by some decidedly dodgy businessmen. At the forefront of the clique is Louise, a Black queer woman, and with a twisty plot rife with female obsession, you can expect further smatterings of sapphism.
Conversations with Friends
2022 // 1 season // 12 episodes
Adapted from Sally Rooney’s debut novel, this series follows the relationship dramas of queer uni student Frances, as she embarks on an affair with a married actor with zero personality. I read the book but haven’t seen the series, so I cannot tell you if the guy gets a personality on screen. Anyway, she is also BFFs with her lesbian ex Bobbi, who does have a personality!
1963- // 40 seasons // 884 episodes
The BBC’s long-running legendary sci-fi show has exploded in queerness in recent years, starting with side characters such as queer couple Madame Vastra and Jenny, through the first lesbian companion, first female (and casually queer) Doctor, to Ncuti Gatwa’s very-much-out Timelord.
2018-2022 // 3 seasons // 19 episodes
This is a totally hilarious sitcom set in 1990s Northern Ireland, following four Catholic schoolgirls (and one English boy) as they run riot at their convent school, much to the chagrin of deadpan nun Sister Michael (Siobhan McSweeny). Queer interest comes from “wee lesbian” Clare, but the ultimate love story is between the utterly bonkers quartet of friends.
2025 // 1 season // 6 episodes
Set in London in the aftermath of WWI, this show follows slightly psychopathic single mother Kate as she attempts to make a living for herself and her daughters in the sleazy nightlife of interwar Soho. Also embroiled in the action is aspiring policewoman Violet Davies, who will stop at nothing to be accepted into the London Met Police, including kissing-and-telling on another female recruit. Watch for the great production and intriguing historical setting, but don’t expect to like any of the anti-heroines!
Everyone Else Burns
2023- // 2 seasons // 12 episodes
This razor-sharp comedy follows an ultra-religious family that’s part of an evangelical cult. Feckless dad David schemes to become an elder, while wife Fiona is the real brains of the family and bristles against the restrictions of her role, egged on by lesbian neighbour Melissa. Totally absurd and completely hilarious!
2013 – 2016 // 3 seasons // 17 episodes
A suspenseful thriller about Detective Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) attempting to track down a serial killer and sexual assaulter. This is definitely not for the faint of heart, but may be worth braving it for a minor sapphic storyline between Stella and Archie Panjabi’s alluring pathologist.
2016 – 2019 // 2 seasons // 12 episodes
According to Riese: “In its second season, Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s eponymous protagonist Fleabag confirms her bisexuality while sharing a drink with a lesbian businesswoman played by Kristin Scott Thomas. But you’re gonna watch this show regardless because it’s so good!”
Get Millie Black
2025 // 1 season // 5 episodes
Tense (and often violent) crime thriller set between Kingston and London that follows detective Millie-Jean Black who returns home to Jamaica after a stint at Scotland Yard. Initially starting out investigating a missing persons case, Millie gets drawn into a web of international people trafficking and corrupt coppers. She’s shocked to discover the sibling she thought was dead is alive, although living with a community of trans women at constant risk of abuse. The show leans into its setting to cast a light on not only LGBT lives in Jamaica, but also the lasting impacts of British colonial rule, interwoven into the plot in a way that elevates it above the usual procedural cop fodder.
2017-2019 // 3 seasons // 24 episodes
This “whore’s eye’s view” of rival brothels in 18th century London offers a thoroughly feminist view of sex work – indeed Riese calls it “the most accurate portrayal of indoor-market sex work ever represented onscreen” in her season one review. Samantha Morton stars as Margaret Wells, attempting to improve her family’s fortunes at the expense of her former madame, the utterly unscrupulous Lydia Quigley (played magnificently by Lesley Manville).
Season one features a minor queer storyline between one of the harlots and the daughter of a religious zealot, who are joined in season two by Liv Tyler’s rich-but-trapped aristocrat Lady Isabella and her burgeoning relationship with top courtesan Charlotte (Jessica Brown Findlay).
Here We Go
2022- // 3 seasons // 16 episodes
The frantic family comedy follows the Jessops as they generally make a meal of everyday life. Despite well worn tropes like a useless Dad (who’s never quite got over his stint as an Olympic archer) and a grandma prone to bizarre outbursts, the show is well-observed and uses its pseudo home video format effectively. Relevant to our interests, we also have the trope of a sullen gay daughter! Amy is in a relationship with Maya, with many ups and downs to match the chaos of the family around them.
Home Fires
2015-2016 // 2 seasons // 12 episodes
Set during World War II, Home Fires follows a group of women in a rural Cheshire village, as they adapt to wartime life by making jam and having affairs. I am not kidding – the inspiration for the series was a book called Jambusters about Women’s Institute members during WWII, but obviously you have to sex things up for the telly.
One of the group is Teresa, a new teacher in the village school, who is hiding the secret of being a giant lesbian. In the first season she is mostly pining for her girlfriend overseas, but in the second she is caught between marrying an RAF officer to fit in or pursuing a female pilot.
2015-2018 // 3 seasons // 24 episodes
This is a very accomplished take on a classic sci-fi tale that’s as relevant now as ever: Can artificial intelligence achieve consciousness? In Humans, the artificial beings in question are “synths” humanoid robots used mostly as servants for “real” humans, that begin to develop consciousness and quickly question their subservient status in the world. One of the synths is Niska, a total badass and one of my all-time fave TV characters, who will stop at nothing to inflict vengeance against the many humans that have mistreated her, but starts to re-evaluate her approach after developing feelings for a (human) waitress.
In the Flesh
2013-2014 // 2 seasons // 9 episodes
Here we have a zombie drama following a queer guy called Kieran who returns home to his family suffering from “Partially Dead Syndrome.” Kieran’s sister Gem is bisexual, and there’s a recurring storyline involving flashbacks to her girlfriend Lisa, who is missing presumed dead after a run-in with Kieran in his semi-zombie state.
The Jetty
2024 // 1 season // 4 episodes
The four-part crime drama is set in a small Northern community after an arson attack brings to light some not-so-buried crimes. The story is split between the present and the past, attempting to unravel the disappearance of rebellious teen Amy, whose best friend has an enormous sapphic crush on her (that’s maybe or maybe not requited). This is one of those shows where everyone is flawed in some way, so expect plenty of bad stuff to happen!
Line of Duty
2012 – 2021 // 6 seasons // 36 episodes
The twisty crime drama is about a police anti-corruption unit that roots out dodgy coppers. The sixth season sees investigations centre on Kelly Macdonald’s Detective Joanne Davidson, who is definitely bent (the queer kind) and maybe bent (the corrupt kind).
2007-2013 // 6 seasons (because the final one never happened) // 61 episodes
After two seasons of enraging the middle-class parents of Britain because of its debauched depiction of partying teens, Skins introduced a sapphic pairing that set certain corners of the queer internet alight for a couple of years: Naomi and Emily. They had many sweet scenes interwoven with lesbian high drama as they worked through their nascent queer feelings for each other and definitely nothing bad happened at the end.
Rebel Cheer Squad
2022 // 1 season // 8 episodes
A spin-off of Get Even, Rebel Cheer Squad features a new squad of girls stepping up to confront bullies at their school, while also leading the cheer team! One of the gang, Rumi, is queer and struggles with a budding relationship with fellow student Jess because of fears around family and coming out.
Shameless
2004-2013 // 11 seasons // 139 episodes
This long-running black comedy show follows the trials and tribulations of the Gallagher family and the many other denizens of a fictional estate in Manchester. Much of the early action follows Frank Gallagher, the world’s biggest deadbeat, as he attempts to connect with his sprawling brood. Frank’s wife Monica is bisexual and frequently disappears for affairs with women, including butch trucker Norma!
Spent
2024- // 1 season // 6 episodes
This comedy follows flamboyant model Mia, who returns home to London after a supposedly high-flying career as a supermodel. The only trouble is that despite her designer looks, she’s destitute and seriously in debt! Mia deals with the harsh realities of having to hustle for money and reconnect with her family (who have struggles of their own), all the while hiding the truth about her fall from grace. Mia also tries to rekindle her friendship with former BFF, Jo, who is about to get married to her girlfriend, but perhaps there is more to Mia and Jo’s relationship!
Tell Me Everything
2022-24 // 2 seasons // 12 episodes
ITV’s attempt at a Skins-style teen drama, Tell Me Everything follows 16-year-old Jonny struggling through grief and depression as he starts sixth form. Part of Jonny’s friend group is lesbian Regan who is trying to juggle her studies and life in general with caring for her grandma.
2019-2021 // 2 seasons // 12 episodes
Produced by Sharon Horgan (so basically a green light to watch this), This Way Up follows Áine (Aisling Bee), an Irish woman living in London who is recovering from a nervous breakdown. Mostly a drama, the show is shot through with dark humour, as Áine tries to reconnect with the world. Horgan plays her older sister, who is bisexual and in a relationship with a guy, but starts to develop an attraction for a female colleague.
The Tower
2021-2024 // 3 seasons // 11 episodes
This police procedural is set in London, initially investigating the deaths of two people that fell from a tower block. Regular gay-for-pay fave Gemma Whelan plays the lead role of dour detective Sarah Collins. Sarah is lesbian, and although it’s not really explored much in the first season, she does eventually get a girlfriend and may possibly smile.
2022-2026 // 2 seasons // 12 episodes
In this dystopian thriller, a massive cyber-attack has been unleashed on the UK, taking down pretty much everything (not just Marks & Spencer). Fortunately, brainiac GCHQ intern Saara has a knack for uncovering cyber shenanigans although this puts her at odds with her more senior colleagues. Fortunately, NSA agent Kathy is visiting from the US to give her a friendly shoulder to cry on. This doesn’t continue into season 2, which sees Saara have a reduced role.
Van der Valk
2020- // 4 seasons // 12 episodes
A reboot of the Amsterdam-set procedural crime drama from the 70s/90s that was mostly famous for its theme tune (or at least that’s all I remember about it), this contemporary version maintains boat-dwelling cop Piet Van der Valk as the lead character, but his partner-in-crimefighting is detective Lucienne Hassell, who is gay!
Waterloo Road
2006- // 15 seasons // 238 episodes
While many long-running BBC soap-like shows have featured occasional sapphic storylines (think Holby City, Casualty etc.), I’m not going to advocate sinking your time into shows like that when it’s far more efficient to watch the gay stuff on Youtube and spare yourself the straight nonsense. However! Waterloo Road has quite a few storylines featuring queer and trans characters, including Heather Peace as a lesbian teacher in seasons 7-9, and a storyline about a student with a crush on her teacher in season 5, and a football loving student’s trans awakening in season 8.
2021-2024 // 2 seasons // 12 episodes
Why did TV leave it so long to treat us to a magical realist sitcom about an all-female all-Muslim punk band? We Are Lady Parts follows PhD student Amina as she tries to balance everyone’s expectations of what it is to be a good Muslim woman with her own burning desire to play lead guitar. When she crosses paths with the extremely attractive (but unfortunately not queer) Saira, who just happens to be in need of a new guitarist, Amina starts to lead a double life. The band’s drummer/part time taxi driver Ayesha is queer and has struggles of her own navigating her burgeoning feelings for women.
As Natalie says in her glowing review: “Lady Parts is unlike anything you’ve ever seen on television…while it shares some of its DNA with other British exports, We Are Lady Parts has its own voice… and it is loud, raucous and unapologetic.”
Wild Cherry
2026 // 1 season // 6 episodes
This is more of a PSA in case, like me, you see a large cast of women, do some gay maths and conclude that someone must be queer here. Wild Cherry is trying very hard to be a glossy US-style drama in the vein of Big Little Lies, following rich and entitled families in an exclusive community in Surrey. The plot centres on the fallout from a scheme run by two schoolfriends to essentially sell porny pictures of their friends to each other, which leads to a girl going missing and a lot of people being odious to each other. I can confirm that there is eventually some queerness acknowledged, but it’s so inconsequential and late in the day that you should save yourself the bother of watching.
Non-British shows on BBC, ITV, Channel 4 & Channel 5
Although this guide focuses on British-produced shows, there’s also plenty of queer programming that doesn’t originate in the UK that’s streaming too!
Battlestar Galactica – 2003 – 2009 // 4 seasons // 76 episodes – Stream on ITVx
Black Sails – 2014-2017 // 4 seasons // 38 episodes – Stream on ITVx
Brooklyn 99 – 2013 – 2021 // 8 seasons // 153 episodes – Stream on Channel 4
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – 1997 – 2003 // 7 seasons // 144 episodes – Stream on ITVx
How to Get Away with Murder – 2014-2020 // 6 seasons // 90 episodes – Stream on Channel 4
The Hunting Wives – 2025- // 1 season // 8 episodes – Stream on ITVx
Lioness – 2023- // 2 seasons // 16 episodes – Stream on ITVx
Little Fires Everywhere – 2020 // 1 season // 8 episodes – Stream on Channel 4
Marvel’s Runaways – 2017-2019 // 3 seasons // 33 episodes – Stream on ITVx
Orphan Black – 2013-2017 // 5 seasons // 50 episodes – Stream on ITVx
Orphan Black: Echoes – 2024 // 1 season // 10 episodes – Stream on ITVx
Pretty Little Liars – 2010-2017 // 7 seasons // 160 episodes – Stream on BBC iPlayer
Prisoner: Cell Block H – 1979 – 1986 // 8 seasons // 692 episodes – Stream on Channel 5
Rookie Blue – 2010 – 2015 // 6 seasons // 74 episodes – Stream on ITVx
Sex Lives of College Girls – 2021-2025 // 3 seasons // 30 episodes – Stream on itvX
Spartacus: Blood and Sand – 2010 – 2013 // 3 seasons // 39 episodes – Stream on Channel 5
Supergirl – 2015-2021 // 6 seasons // 126 episodes – Stream on ITVx
Tales of the City – 1993 // 1 season // 6 episodes – Stream on Channel 4
The Bold Type – 2017-2021 // 5 seasons // 52 episodes – Stream on Channel 4
The First Lady – 2022 // 1 season // 10 episodes – Stream on Channel 4
The Good Wife – 2009-2016 // 7 seasons // 156 episodes – Stream on Channel 5
The Shannara Chronicles 2016 – 2017 // 2 seasons // 20 episodes – Stream on ITVx
Under the Bridge – 2024 // 1 season // 8 episodes – Stream on ITVx
Wentworth – 2013-2021 // 8 seasons // 100 episodes – Stream on Channel 5
Yellowjackets – 2021- // 3 seasons // 29 episodes – Stream on ITVx
Notable Shows with Gay Male Representation but Minimal/Zero Sapphic Content
Beautiful People
2008 – 2009 // 2 seasons // 12 episodes
This heartwarming coming-of-age comedy is based on Simon Doonan and his experiences growing up gay in 90s Reading, where Simon and best friend Kyle dream of leaving their dreary suburban existence and escaping to the big city. This is one of my wife’s favourite TV shows, which is a strong recommendation because she has very exacting standards.
Big Boys
2022-2025 // 3 seasons // 18 episodes
One of the best sitcoms on British TV in recent years, Big Boys follows the most delightfully dorky gay boy, Jack, as he starts uni and befriends typical straight lad Danny. There are tons of laugh-out-loud moments, intertwined with tender moments exploring depression and grief. Although most of the queerness centres around Jack’s eternal quest to lose his anal virginity, Danny has an on-again-off-again relationship with a snarky student on his course, Corinne, who refers to herself as “obviously bisexual” which means I can include this fantastic show on the list!
Gimme Gimme Gimme
1999 – 2001 // 3 seasons // 19 episodes
Outrageous sitcom starring Kathy Burke as loudmouthed fag hag Linda La Hughes and James Dreyfus as her ultra-camp luvvie flat-mate, Tom. Linda and Tom are at constant loggerheads about pretty much everything, especially when chasing after the same men.
Half Man
2026 // 1 season // 6 episodes
Richard Gadd’s bracing examination of toxic masculinity follows step-brothers Niall (Jamie Bell) and Ruben (Richard Gadd) and their tempestuous relationship with each other. Niall’s struggle with his sexuality is one of the main themes, causing tension and violence between the two.
It’s a Sin
2021 // 1 season // 5 episodes
This masterclass AIDS drama from Russell T Davies follows a group of gay men for a decade through the 80s and early 90s, from their early hedonism in London before grappling with the threat HIV (and a homophobic world) brings to their lives.
Juice
2023 – 2025 // 2 seasons // 12 episodes
Surreal slapstick comedy, written by and starring Mawaan Rizwan as high-strung Jamma, navigating a relationship with older, calmer boyfriend Guy (Russell Tovey). With lots of emphasis on Jamma’s family, it’s nice to see queer Asian rep in this show!
Mr Loverman
2024 // 1 season // 8 episodes
Based on Bernadine Evaristo’s novel of the same name, Mr Loverman follows Barrington, a 74-year-old Londoner born in Antigua, as he considers coming clean about a decades-long affair he’s been having with another man.
Queer as Folk
1999-2000 // 2 seasons // 10 episodes
Perhaps the first TV show to take queer culture into the mainstream — it was billed as Britain’s first gay drama when it was released — Queer as Folk was originally a UK hit before the longer-running US version. The show follows a trio of gay guys: schoolboy Nathan, good guy Vince and playboy Stuart, as they cavort about Manchester’s gay village and generally try and lead their best gay lives. While the show is supremely queer per its namesake, the lesbian characters are pretty minor; my main memories from watching this 25 years ago were “why are all the gay men getting coked up and rimming, but the lesbians are just boring with babies?!”
Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK
2019- // 8 seasons // 73 episodes
The Drag Race juggernaut finally came to the UK in 2019, showcasing Britain’s unique brand of drag and humour. Despite its huge popularity, it became another queer show to get the chopping block from brutal cuts at the BBC this year, with future seasons set to stream on WOW Presents Plus.
Vicious
2013 – 2016 // 2 seasons // 14 episodes
Juggernauts of stage and screen, it still amazes me that Sirs Ian McKellan and Derek Jacobi signed up for this ITV sitcom about an elderly gay couple, still going strong after 50 years of a love-hate relationship. Expect many bitter barbs and a healthy dose of nostalgic fun in this one. Plus the incomparable Frances De La Tour in the supporting cast!
Comments
Thanks for the list Sally, definitely got some new shows to watch. It’s a little sad how many trans inclusive shows we had in the past few years, given the current political climate. Memories of a slightly better time.
To add a kids show to the list, looks like Mustangs FC (2017-2020) is still on BBC iplayer as well (Australian girls soccer show targetted at young teens) – there’s definitely a lesbian romance in S3, I think it starts in S2?
Thanks for the list, really happy to see so many shows!
Thanks for this list – so many shows I haven’t seen, or even heard of, here! UK-centric stuff is really appreciated :)
So great to have a UK list – thank you! I recall watching (the very British) Sugar Rush as a teenager and having all sorts of pennies drop!
I don’t know if they’re still available to stream but my additional shoutouts would be Desiree Akhavan’s The Bisexual and the Banana/Cucumber/Tofu series’ from Russell T Davies, particularly for a poignant moment between Julie Hesmondalgh (who played the first transgender character in a British soap) and Bethany Black (first trans actor in a leading role in a British TV series).
A strong list but criminal that you’ve missed It’s A Sin! Another Ryssel T Davies series – I would say some of his best work. It tells the story of a group of gay men living in London during the AIDS epidemic. I highly recommend a watch but make sure you have (multiple boxes of) tissues to hand!
It would indeed be a sin to miss It’s A Sin, but I couldn’t recall there being any queer women or non-binary characters! Which is kind of a criteria for being on this list. But I absolutely agree it’s a great show!
My bad, I misinterpreted the description for the list! I also misremembered the character of Jill Baxter to be queer.
Nice list tbh, UK TV has been doing a solid job lately with representation. I’ve watched a few from similar lists and some are actually really well written, not just there for diversity points.
The guy in Conversations With Friends does get a personality he has 0.0000001% of a personality in the tvshow.
What about In my Skin, forgotten, on a streamer or deleted?
I forget the name but there was a comedy with the actress from Nighty Night.
And Hex of course.
In My Skin sadly vanished from iPlayer earlier this year!
Do you mean Sally 4 Ever with Julia Davis? That was on Sky (still streaming there) as was Hex (no longer streaming, but available on archive.org). I’ve kept things to the free-to-air channels thus for, but maybe next time I’ll start adding Sky shows!
Thank you for your detailed research into the exact percentage of personality of the guy from Conversation With Friends, it looks spot on.